Why the hate for big brother?

[Max Power]

@Master

I'm not criticising the 1970's, Ali fought everybody who was anybody against some tough contenders and emerged the best. George Foreman, Larry Holmes also products of that great time.

I'm simply highlighting that if you scrutinise that resume some of his opponents were not exactly stellar and certainly overmatched!

Of the entire 70's the only heavyweights who would provide any serious level of competition to the 90's, 00's and today's landscape would be a 74 style Muhammad Ali (the 220lb lean version who beat Foreman not the skinny kid from the 60's or the fat plodder who lost to Leon) and not surprisingly Larry Holmes and George Foreman who did in fact compete in the 90's!

Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes were the last of the great outfighters who were not particularly big punchers and had very limited inside game but made up for it with their handspeed and their range as well as advanced ring IQ. Foreman was the tanker of the 70's and 90's, could hit hard and take a lot of punches, a formula for success in any era and into advanced age.

Ron Lyle was a good fighter and tough opponent but seriously watch his fights. This isn't a masterful boxer or a particularly devastating hitter compared to what would come later. His fight with Foreman really outlined how limited both guys really were. I think he would do ok today but no better than any other Klitschko opponent.

And no chinny fighters like Frazier or Norton could ever hope to survive in an era of superheavyweight punchers I'm sorry but that's a fact!